farnz Posted August 27, 2009 Share #21 Posted August 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Stephen, My Nokton produces sharper shots at f/1.2 than the samples you've posted but, as others have mentioned, at these tight parameters there are a number of variables that could contribute to softness. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 Hi farnz, Take a look here Please help me evaluate my new Nokton 35 1.2 with my M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wstotler Posted August 27, 2009 Share #22 Posted August 27, 2009 Stephen--Based on your posted images, your Nokton is producing soft images at f/1.2--it should be sharper. I don't see an area of sharp focus like I see in my shots. (Regardless of whether I misfocus or not, I do have at least a patch of something really sharp somewhere--even when the photos are resized down for the Web and compressed.) Shoot with a tripod (as mentioned above) to confirm it's not shake then decide what to do next. . . . Thanks, Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share #23 Posted August 27, 2009 Alright - here goes... I put the camera on a table tripod and used a few different testing charts. I tried to focus as best as I could on the center mark of each chart (focusing is wierd when your subject is at an angle). Looks like I have a back focus problem? or could it be me doing something wrong? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/94533-please-help-me-evaluate-my-new-nokton-35-12-with-my-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1007180'>More sharing options...
gwelland Posted August 28, 2009 Share #24 Posted August 28, 2009 The interesting thing I noticed with the sots of the focus target are that the images seem to be sharper on the right than the left. I don't think that it's due to the slightly offset alignment of the camera either because I'd expect to see the same sharpness on both sides of the target, perhaps with one side sharper closer or further depending upon the angle. I don't have my Nokton any longer but it did seem sharper wide open than this example, even handheld. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share #25 Posted August 28, 2009 You're right, it does seem to focus better on the right. Even if the angle is tilted, something should be in focus on the left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 28, 2009 Share #26 Posted August 28, 2009 For this kind of work handheld shots are valueless. You must use a tripod. Might I suggest you start using the lens for what it is intended, which is low-light shots. Anyway, in daylight it should draw like this: Beautiful shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share #27 Posted August 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, that is a beautiful picture. Thanks to everyone for your advice. I called my dealer and he said all the 1.2's do that to some degree with the M8, and that the problem is not seen with film cameras. He is sending another lens to me and said I could keep the one I like better. About the left side being softer than the right, he said that only a misaligned element could cause that, and that it was highly doubtful because the Nokton 1.2 is a very well built lens. I guess I'll know more soon.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted August 29, 2009 Share #28 Posted August 29, 2009 ... I called my dealer and he said all the 1.2's do that to some degree with the M8, .... Sounds like dealer doublespeak to me because, for example, mine is sharper on my M8 than the examples you posted. I'm curious to know why he would think that sharpness is different with a film or digital camera. Evidence of the back-focus owing to lack of tolerance from a digital sensor perhaps but not sharpness (based on the lens's resolving power). ... About the left side being softer than the right, he said that only a misaligned element could cause that, and that it was highly doubtful because the Nokton 1.2 is a very well built lens. .... They may be well built but there are plenty of reports about sample variance on the forum and in Sean Reid's excellent reviews so imho a misaligned element is a distinct possibility. I tried 3 samples of the 35 f/1.4 Nokton and each produced different results; in the end I traded it because all of the samples back-focussed between about f/2 and f/4, which my 35 f/1.2 Nokton doesn't do. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted August 29, 2009 Share #29 Posted August 29, 2009 I called my dealer and he said all the 1.2's do that to some degree with the M8, and that the problem is not seen with film cameras. He is sending another lens to me and said I could keep the one I like better. About the left side being softer than the right, he said that only a misaligned element could cause that, and that it was highly doubtful because the Nokton 1.2 is a very well built lens. I guess I'll know more soon.... I don't trust that advice. Wrt to left/right variance it could be a number of factors beyond the lens including sensor to mount alignment. If the next lens copy performs the same you may need to have the M8 looked at, but my money would be on the CV sample variation. You could check the left/right performance with another lens too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share #30 Posted August 29, 2009 is there a better way to check the L/R variation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted August 29, 2009 Share #31 Posted August 29, 2009 For this kind of work handheld shots are valueless. You must use a tripod. Might I suggest you start using the lens for what it is intended, which is low-light shots. Anyway, in daylight it should draw like this: Beautiful photo Jaap. Do you remember which aperture you used? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted August 29, 2009 Share #32 Posted August 29, 2009 f1.2 is nice but it simply does not have the same "leica" look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 29, 2009 Share #33 Posted August 29, 2009 Beautiful photo Jaap. Do you remember which aperture you used? Either 2.8 or 4.0 Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Bébèrt Posted August 30, 2009 Share #34 Posted August 30, 2009 Indeed a bit soft at 1.2, but I like this piece of glass. Make sure your rangefinder is well adjusted when using lenses with such a small DOF. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/13933-new-backfocus-thread-solution.html Snapshot of my daugther at f1.4 There is an entire threat on this lens at http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72649 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share #35 Posted August 31, 2009 Thanks for the thread link. the shots there at 1.2 seem to be just as sharp (soft) as mine. I guess mine is fine. Anyway, getting the second one in a few days to compare. How can I make sure my rangefinder is adjusted right? I recently got my camera back from leica a few weeks ago (took advantage of the 50% off upgrade options for new M8 buyers) and I asked them to check the focus. Would they have adjusted the rangefinder? Is it something i can easily do myself. BTW, I checked all my other lenses (CV 15mm 4.5 heliar, Elmarit 28 2.8, CV Heliar Classic 50mm f2, and CV heliar 75 f2.5) with the printed lens chart and they all seem to focus fine. Thanks, Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Bébèrt Posted August 31, 2009 Share #36 Posted August 31, 2009 DOF at 2.5f on you CV heliar 75mm for a distence of 100cm = 1,91 cm and that's is the smalest DOF of your lens set, included the Nokton 35/f1.2. So if this is shap, there's no adjustment required. Just check this periodicly because the rangfindersettings can go off. here's a nice tool, even for the iPhone: Online Depth of Field Calculator Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share #37 Posted September 8, 2009 I received another Nokton 35mm 1.2 lens the other day from my dealer so I could compare the two. Here's the results. The first two were taken with the target taped to the wall, and the second two with the target flat on a table. The camera is on a tripod and at about a 30 degree angle for both. The order is: 1-my lens, 2- loaner lens, 3- my lens, 4- loaner lens. What do you think? Thanks, Stephen. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/94533-please-help-me-evaluate-my-new-nokton-35-12-with-my-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1022138'>More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share #38 Posted September 8, 2009 help.....please....I know the M9 is taking over the world, but.....:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 8, 2009 Share #39 Posted September 8, 2009 All lenses will be fine. Focus is within DOF. That is about all you can expect in a lens of these specs at this price. You can always have DAG finetune it for you That should do the trick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreenspan Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share #40 Posted September 8, 2009 thanks jaapv. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.